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Seven Big 12 Programs Are Heading To The 2025 NCAA Tournament, Led By Houston

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Big 12 Champion Houston received a No. 1 seed, leading seven teams selected to the 2025 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship. It marks the 11th consecutive tournament where the Big 12 has earned at least six bids.

Houston (30-4), who won both the regular season and the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship titles, gives the Conference a No. 1 seed for the fifth consecutive year and the 17th season out of 28. The Cougars take the nation’s third-longest win streak to Wichita, Kansas to face No. 16 SIU Edwardsville (22-11) Thursday, as head coach Kelvin Sampson makes his 20th career NCAA Tournament appearance.

No. 3 Iowa State (24-9) heads to Milwaukee, Wisconsin Friday to play No. 14 Lipscomb (25-9), looking for a third Sweet 16 bid in four seasons under head coach T.J. Otzelberger. The Cyclones have heard their name called on Selection Sunday in 11 of the 13 previous occurrences.

No. 3 Texas Tech (24-9) was selected to the field of 68 for the sixth time in seven tournaments, including both seasons under head coach Grant McCasland. The Red Raiders face No. 14 UNCW (27-7) in Wichita, Kansas Thursday.

Arizona was picked as a No. 4 seed, going to Seattle to face No. 13 Akron (28-6). The Wildcats have participated in March Madness in all four seasons under head coach Tommy Lloyd and have reached the second weekend in two of the previous three occasions.

No. 6 BYU (24-9) has qualified as an At-Large in each of its two seasons in the Big 12 Conference, and first-year head coach Kevin Young will lead the Cougs against No. 11 VCU (28-6) in Denver Thursday.

No. 7 Kansas (21-12) extends its record streak with its 33rd consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, including all 21 tournaments during head coach Bill Self’s tenure. The Jayhawks take a 13-game First Round win streak to Providence, Rhode Island to face No. 10 Arkansas (20-13) on Thursday.

No. 9 Baylor (19-14) is making its 10th appearance in the last 11 tournaments, all under head coach Scott Drew. The Bears look for their sixth consecutive win in the First Round Friday, taking on Mississippi State (21-12) in Raleigh, N.C.

Big 12 teams have played in four of the last six Men’s Final Fours, including two of the last four NCAA Champions. Regionals take place in Atlanta, Indianapolis, Newark, N.J. and San Francisco March 27-30. The Men’s Final Four is in San Antonio, Texas on April 5 & 7.
 
Thursday, March 20 (First Round/Round of 64)

  • (1) Houston vs. (16) SIU Edwardsville (TBS), 1 p.m. CT, Wichita, Kansas
  • (6) BYU vs. (11) VCU (TNT), Approx. 3:05 p.m. CT/2:05 p.m. MT, Denver
  • (7) Kansas vs. (10) Arkansas (CBS), 6:10 p.m. CT, Providence, R.I.
  • (3) Texas Tech vs. (14) UNC Wilmington (truTV), Approx. 9:10 p.m. CT, Wichita

Friday, March 21 (First Round/Round of 64)

  • (8) Mississippi State vs. (9) Baylor (CBS), 11:15 a.m. CT, Raleigh, N.C.
  • (3) Iowa State vs. (14) Lipscomb (TNT), 12:30 p.m. CT, Milwaukee, Wis.
  • (4) Arizona vs. (13) Akron (truTV), 5:35 p.m. CT/4:35 p.m. MST, Seattle